Feel like giving up lately?

February 5, 2004

Joan Clayton

Trials come and trials go. It seems we no longer get over one hurdle until another one appears.
By the time we wrestle through more anxiety we feel weary, discouraged and wonder what’s going on.
I’ve discovered a secret. If I can’t be happy today, regardless of problems, then when am I going to be happy? When the trial is over? Life is full of obstacles and my attitude determines my state of well being. I don’t know of anyone who is free of problems.
Have you ever noticed an old gnarled tree that has been battered by the elements? The “storms of life” have made it into a thing of beauty.
Do you ever feel like giving up? What good would that do? Then there is no hope at all and that is a miserable state.
No matter how dark the night, no matter how bleak the circumstances, no matter how dismal the future, keep going. Keep hoping when there seems to be no hope. Believe for the best when things appear to be all wrong. Keep holding on.
There is every reason to know your situation will work out all right. Victory is just around the corner and what a shame it would be to quit now. It’s the one who strains forward and presses on who wins the prize. (Philippians 3:14)
Someone has said, “It is not what happens to you in life, it is how you react to the situation.” Whatever the circumstance, there is still the choice of attitude.
Misery accompanies a pessimistic attitude.
Nothing seems to go right.
Complaining, murmuring and criticizing makes a bad atmosphere, in the home, workplace or wherever.
I loved teaching children. They had an abundance of enthusiasm for life. It thrilled me to hear them say, “What are we going to learn about today?” One little cutie summed it up in one sentence, “The more it gets harder, the more we get smarter.” What an application to life.
Dare to make life the best it can be. Know you are a special, unique creation. Of all the billions of people that have ever walked the face of this earth, there is no one exactly like you. What a boring existence it would be if we were all clones.
You are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14) Awaken each day to Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (NIV)
In spite of some days when everything seems to go wrong, we always have more blessings than problems. Getting in the “pits” blurs our vision and blocks our view.
Eagles spread their wings, allowing the storm to carry them above the conflict. You and I can do that, too.
It is always too soon to quit in this race of life. “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
So set your face like a flint and meet life head on. Victory is just around the corner. “People who do what is right have many problems, but the LORD will solve them all” (Psalm 34:19 NCV).